Wells High School - Crimson and Gray Yearbook (Southbridge, MA)

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4 THE CRIMSON AND GRAY ogy, and Dentistry. Interesting in the science of Medicine was the giant man composed of cellon and built on a human skeleton. He is transparent and, as though you were sud- denly given X-Ray eyes, you may see the in- side of the human body. Small microphones hidden in the ears allow this transparent man to talk. He properly begins the story of the science of medicine in this huge theater of Sciences. Astronomy is nicely taken care of in the Planetarium where a complete story of the heavens, stars and planets is beautifully and colorfully displayed. The huge Havoline thermometer standing in the center of the Grounds, two hun- dred feet high, was most impressive. The numerals were very large and readings could easily be taken from anywhere at the Fair. Notable on the Travel and Transport building was the so-called breathing dome, constructed on the principle of a suspension bridge, rising and sinking, depending on the atmospheric pressure on the roof. This building houses all sorts and means of travel and transportation. The outside exhibits were of an interesting nature consisting of the Royal Scot, one of London ' s fastest trains; a United States Railway Post Office car; cars representing various railroad companies; one of the largest freight trains in the world; and finally the palatial coaches of the Presidential train of the Republic of Mexico. Interesting in the automobile industry were the Chrysler and the General Motors Build- ings. In the latter a complete assembly plant had been built and crowds of people could watch raw materials enter through one door and finished cars come out at the opposite exit. In direct contrast to these buildings of ultra modern construction was the age-old Maya Temple of Nunnery built of brownish colored stone. With its carved figures and designs representing men and animals, one would hardly believe it to be an exact re- production of the beautiful temple in far- off Yucatan. The various Indian tribes with their homes of planks or wigwams and their carved totem poles afford much interest to the curi- ous. Beautiful in structure, its gold-leaf roof shining in the sun, was the Golden Temple of Jehol that takes you back to China in the early Eighteenth Century. Marvelous col- umns of red lacquer support the hundreds of small pieces of carved wood which are joined together without the use of a single nail to form the ceiling. The electrical and radio displays make one stop in amazement at the applications of elec- tricity in power, heat, and light. Exhibits take visitors behind the scenes and show the actual operations for various systems of com- munication. Television, the art of tomor- row, was very cleverly exhibited. One whole section is devoted to exhibits of homes. Each illustrates the use of some premade building material or method of con- struction such as steel, masonite, enamel, and lumber. Most interesting in this group is the House of Tomorrow made circular in form and of glass. All the plumbing pipes, gas, and electricity are built into a central shaft or mast. The outside walls are of glass and of course there are no windows. The walls are equipped with roller curtains to insure privacy. This ultra modern house has an airplane hangar, as well as garage on the ground floor. Those interested in poultry, livestock, flowers, and gardens had wonderful exhibits to view in the Agricultural and Horticul- tural Buildings. In the Dairy Building was located the color organ. The fingering ol the key board of the organ produces vari- ations of beautiful colors. As the music be- comes louder the colors became deeper shades, and then grow dimmer in hue as the music softens. Striking in appearance was the United States Government Building with its gilded dome and three pylons typifying the three branches of our government— legislative, ex- ecutive, and judicial. The parade of states in

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NOVEMBER 1933 velopment in lenses. Since then Tillyer and Bifocal lenses have been developed. In 1931 the Ful-vue bifocals were placed on the market. These are recognized to be superior to any other on the market today. The American Optical Company spectacles are sold through 30,000 dealers located in all parts of the world. It is a happy coincidence that The Century of Progress in Chicago ' s celebration coincides with the American Op- tical ' s years of growth to success. Gerald McNitt ' 34. HIGH SCHOOL IN 1854 TN THE year 1841 the first high school in - ■ Southbridge was opened. A Mr. Willard taught the school which was located in an upper room of the old Town Hall and it was supported by private contributions. At length, in 1854, the town took over the high school and appropriated two hundred dollars for its upkeep. For many years, a principal and assistant ruled in the two second-story rooms and it is this school which I shall try to describe to you. A small room, furnished with long benches for the students to sit on, a teacher ' s desk, the usual maps and blackboards, was used for recitation purposes. In the larger class- room, each pupil had his own desk facing the teacher ' s platform. At the rear of the room was another raised platform where the pupils stood up to recite. Each of the two rooms was heated very in- adequately by a wood stove. Often the stu- dents were so cold that they would have to ask permission to sit by the stove until they were warm. In the ceiling of the main classroom was a huge ventilator through which it gave mis- chievous boys great pleasure to drop books, apples, and wads of paper. Indeed on one occasion, a pair of human legs was seen to descend and wave wildly in the air until the owner was rescued. One of the most noted graduates of our high school was Ex-President Hyde of Bow- doin College. He is described as being a lively lad and onre was called upon to sit on the teacher ' s platform as punishment for some misdemeanor. I hope it is a pleasant seat, said the teacher. It would be more pleasant, sir, replied Hyde, if I had a cushion. Those students who have trouble reading Latin from a book may thank their lucky stars that they do not have to memorize it. One lady, a member of the class of ' 71, learned her passages so thoroughly that to- day, after sixty years, she can recite them perfectly. Elizabeth Sutci.iffe ' 35. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CENTURY OF PROGRESS T OR many months we had been reading - ■ newspaper items, looking at pictures, hearing conversations, and listening to radio broadcasts about the wonders of the World ' s Fair. None of these, however elaborate, could prepare us for the bombardment of color, light, and architecture which greeted us at the Fair Grounds. The immensity of the enterprise, the un- dertaking of this huge task of building and the carrying out of all the infinite details, the sturdy construction of the windowless build- ings are in themselves things which greatly impress the visitor. It seemed that the Exposition was con- ceived and created to meet all tastes however varied they might be. The theme of the Fair, as you know is Science— its growth and industry beckoning on one side, and, on the other fun and the carnival spirit inviting. Perhaps the building which impressed me most was the famous Hall of Science, housing the exhibits which illustrate things that men are now thinking about in the various branches of learning. In this building of Science every conceivable exhibit could be found under the headings of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine, Geol-

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NOVEMBER 1933 this building was remarkable. California ' s exhibit was in the term of a giant red wood tree. Inside the door one had the feeling of being inside the trunk of a huge tree. The many foreign nations with their ex- hibits of all kinds presented color on all sides. Noteworthy of these were the typical Moors in costume selling their wares in a reproduc- tion of a Moroccan village. Most interesting was the Belgian village with exact reproduc- tions of buildings and houses as seen today. Cafes, shops, an old bridge, church, town hall, and block pavement make up this re- markable display. Flemish dancers in color- ful costume and wooden shoes perform in the main square. In this same group we have The Streets of Paris with its sidewalk cafes, quaint shops, noise, shows, and beauty. The streets are named as in Paris and the buildings very good imitations with some of the famous res- taurants. Fascinating phases of industry are brought out in the Sears Roebuck building, the A. and P. Carnival, the Time and Fortune display, the Firestone building and the various stages in the making and refining of the oil in- dustry. The Historical group consists of the story of old Fort Dearborn reproduced in every de- tail, the De Saible Cabin, and further along the Marquette Cabin erected in memory of Pere Marquette. Prominent in this group is the Lincoln display comprising Lincoln ' s boy- hood home and Rutledge Tavern. More of furniture and mementos of Lincoln ' s career can be found in the Illinois Host House on the Avenue of Flags. An interesting note here is that the flags are of two colors only. Looking down from one end of the avenue the flags are all rust in color while from the other end you get the color of gold. This color scheme was carried out from an artistic view point keeping in harmony with the pro- fusion of color roundabout, rather than dis- playing the vari-colored flags of all nations in this Avenue as was originally planned. Fun was not lacking in this place of won- ders. Of course one would not fail to get a view of the monstrous Fair from the Sky- Ride. This ride was in a rocket car along a cable stretched over the Lagoon between two giant towers about two hundred feet high. The Midway afforded no end of spectacles, side shows, and unusual attractions. Here were found the Oriental Village, the living freaks and wonders brought from all parts of the world. Here, too, was located the Mid- get Village and very important the Pantheon de la Guerre, depicting the battle fields of France and Belgium. Even the children had their World ' s Fair in the Enchanted Island, a place of magic and wonders. A real Hollywood where pictures could be seen in the making and where actual radio broad asting took place, was of exceptional interest. Ripley ' s Believe It or Not audi- torium was well patronized. A trip to the bottom of an African diamond mine assured us of the laborious task of mining pure stones. The hog lolling feat carried out by cham- pions of several western states was cleverly done and afforded no end of pleasure. Wheelchairs and jinrikishas furnished transportation on the grounds while, on the water, launches and Venetian gondolas went back and forth on the Lagoon. Even the eating places with their gaily cos- tumed waiters seemed in keeping with the whole idea of the progress of a century. Thus the world joins with Chicago in cele- brating a century of the growth of Science where every phase of progress and life is found exhibited. A scientist might say that the Century of Progress is the culmination of invention and science— the acme of progress. Miss Kathryn H. Finnegan. MY IMPRESSIONS OF THE THE CENTURY OF PROGRESS A FTER seeing the most wonderful sight ■ that you ever saw and perhaps will ever see, you ask yourself, and many ask you, What were you impressed by most? If a person liked art, he might be impressed